(Le Mars) — Le Mars YMCA executive director Todd Lancaster informed the gathering at Monday’s Lunch and Learn session that the local “Y” is more than just a gym and a swim. Lancaster says the local recreation based center is expanding into other programs. He says the YMCA is helping with various age groups in three different categories of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Lancaster offers an example of how the Y is assisting children with reading programs.
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As for healthy living programs, the local YMCA is teaming up with Floyd Valley Healthcare Hospital with a diabetes awareness and education program.
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Lancaster says more and more health insurance companies are urging their clients to join a YMCA membership, in order to improve healthy living, and to lower health insurance premium costs. The YMCA executive says the local YMCA has been working with the staff of Schuster Trucking Company of Le Mars in performing healthy living programs.
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Lancaster says in terms of social responsibility, the YMCA tries to focus on many projects, including offering scholarships for people to obtain a membership, who otherwise may not be able to afford a membership.
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Another way the YMCA helps with social responsibility is to accept a canned good item as part of a payment for a class.
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